No Transfer Policy Remains in Place

JIS: The Ministry of Education Youth and Information is reminding parents and guardians of students who sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) that the ‘no transfer’ policy remains in effect for 2017.

This is in keeping with the Procedure for Transfers dated June 16, 2014.

The Ministry noted, however, that it will accommodate cases where students could have otherwise been placed closer to where they live, or other extenuating circumstance that have resulted in a student having to travel long distances to school.

In a bulletin issued on June 9, the Ministry advised parents/guardians who are seeking transfers for children already placed in schools that it is their responsibility to contact an institution willing to accept their child/children.

The following transfer procedure should be upheld: the accepting school should provide the parent with an acceptance letter; the school where the child was originally placed must give the parent a release letter; and the parent or guardian is then required to write a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, requesting approval for transfer.

This letter must be accompanied by the acceptance and release letters and should be taken to the regional offices.

The Ministry will send approval letters to the accepting and releasing schools within three weeks from the date received.

The regional offices will provide the support to parents/guardians to assist in making this process as seamless as possible.

This year, the Ministry has provided an additional avenue through which parents/guardians can submit their queries/concerns once the GAST results are made available.

These queries/concerns can be emailed to gsataction@moey.gov.jm and will be dealt with by the relevant office/unit within the Ministry.

CAPTION: The Ministry of Education’s main office, 2 National Heroes Circle.